Blockbuster trade for $75 million veteran ‘might aid’ Mets pursuit of Juan Soto

The New York Mets clinched themselves a trip to the postseason by taking the first game of a doubleheader from the Atlanta Braves in dramatic fashion.

By making the playoffs, the team has already exceeded many expectations, no matter what happens in their National League Wild Card matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers. And with more than $175 million set to come off the books for next year, they could reinforce that roster with some additional star talent in the offseason.

Owner Steve Cohen might target the top of the impending free agent class, including Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes. But a trade for St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray might be in the cards first.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Cardinals are looking to shop Gray, who just completed the first season of a three-year, $75 million contract that includes a club option for 2027. FanSided’s Christopher Kline argued that if the Mets can add Gray, they could be setting the stage to sign Soto or Burnes as well.

“The Mets should be going all-out this winter and Steve Cohen has never been afraid to add multiple expensive stars when the moment is right,” Kline noted. “Trading for Gray shouldn’t prevent the Mets from targeting Soto or Burnes. If anything, it might aid their pursuit of the offseason’s crème de la crème.”

Given their typical willingness to rank among the highest spenders in Major League Baseball, adding Gray’s salary shouldn’t prevent the Mets from offering major deals to some marquee free agents as well. And they might need to retool their rotation as veteran starters Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea can become free agents after this season.

Gray could be the kind of frontline starter who accelerates another postseason run for the Mets next year. He’s got a 3.51 ERA in his 12 big-league seasons and has made at least 24 starts in each of the last four years.

“The window has never been more open for a Mets takeover of the NL East with Atlanta floundering and Philadelphia getting older by the year,” Kline added. “The risk is fairly limited relative to the upside of planting Gray next to Kodai Senga atop the rotation.”

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